Tramper for cotton-presses.



I N. W. L. BROWN. TRAMPER FOR COTTON PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED mum, 1911.

1,01 6,396, Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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N. W. L. BROWN.

TRAMPER FOR COTTON PRESSES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAlLl, 1911 Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

N. W. L. BROWN. TRAMPER FOR COTTON PRESSES.

APPLICATION EILED MAR. 1, 1911.

1,016,396. Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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Gum/neg NiMEOD w. L; BROWN, on MARIET'IA, GEORGIA;

TRAMPER FOR oor'roN-PREssEs;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912 Application filed March 1, 1911. Serial No. 611,710.

To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIMROD W. L. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marietta, in the county of Cobb and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trampers for Cotton- Presses, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to trampers for cotton presses, and particularly to steam trampers, which, as is well known, use a double acting steam cylinder, or, as is more commonly the case, a single acting steam cylinder, the tramper head being forced down by steam pressure and returned by block and tackle, or other suitable means.

The present invention relates more particularly to the controlling mechanism for the valve, which in this instance is a combined inlet and outlet valve, by which the steam pressure is handled, and has for its object to provide a valve controlling mechanism which when properly adjusted is automatic in its action, but which provides for the quick and positive stoppage of the tramper head and also for the operation of the combined inlet and outlet valve by hand, these several adjustments being readily under the control of the operator.

In order that the invention may be clear to those skilled in the art, I have illustrated it in connection with a press using a single acting steam cylinder, although the same invention is applicable to the double acting steam cylinder as well. This invention is not limited to the embodiment here shown, as this disclosure is merely illustrative, and in no sense restrictive.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is an elevation of so much of a press as will make clear the application of my invention, the controlling mechanism being shown in an operative position. Fig. 2 is a side view on an enlarged scale of the valve and its controlling mechanism. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 on the same scale. Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3, with the parts in a difierent position. Fig. 5 is a View in section onthe line 55 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Figs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating modified forms of the invention.

Referring to the parts by numbers, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, 2 denotes a press which is provided with the usual press box and tramper. The

tramper head or plunger connects with a piston reciprocable in a cylinder 3, this cylinder having at its upper end a steam pipe 4: connecting with asuitable source of steam supply by a pipe 4: said pipe also serving as an exhaust pipe for the cylinder 3. Connected to said pipe 1 at, any suitable point is a valve 5, said valve serving as an inlet valve for live steam and an outlet valve for exhaust steam, such as is now commonly used. The valve 5 is actuated by the rotary movement of a valve stem 6 having fixed to it, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a collar 7. Immediately above the fixed collar 7 is a collar 8 adapted to rotate about the valve stem 6 or be connected thereto in a manner hereinafter described to cause the rotation of said stem. The collar 8 is held in place by a third collar 9 which contacts with the top of the loose collar 8, and is secured in an adjustable manner to the valve stem 6. The fixed collar 7 is provided with means of any suitable character to permit angular adjustment on the stem 6 to meet all conditions which may arise in connection with the proper positioning and regulating of the inlet and exhaust valve.

At its lower end, as shown in the present embodiment of the invention, the stem 6 carries a lever arm 10 adjustably secured thereto, on which arm is a latch operating handle 11 that may by means of a pin 12, or other suitable device, be locked in its acting position. The latch handle 11 connects with the latch rod 13, the upper end of which passes through the fixed collar 7 and, when thrown in latching position, engages an aperture in the under side of the loose collar 8, so that said collar '8 will be locked under these conditions to the stem 6 through the medium of the collar 7 and latch rod 13.

Projecting from the collar 8 is a lever 14.

which, at its outer end, is oined to a thrust rod 15, which thrust rod travels loosely in a crank sleeve 16 connected in any suitable way to a crank wheel 17 journaled on a bracket 18 fixed on any suitable support. The thrust rod 15 has a resilient connection with the crank sleeve 16, this being secured by interposing springs 19 and 20 on either side of the crank sleeve 16. The crank sleeve 16 is pivotally connected to the crank wheel 17 by means of a pin 17*. Under this ar rangement it will be seen that as the crank wheel 17 rotates the thrust rod 15 is moved steam port is closed. and the exhaust port wide open. The rotation of the crank wheel 17 may be effected by any suitable means, the present embodiment showing a pinion-21 carried on a shaft provided with fast and loose pulleys 22 which belt to a power shaft, not shown. The pinion 21 engages teeth on the crank wheel 17, or if desired a separate gear wheel may be employed fixed to the shaft of said crank wheel.

The angular distance traveled by the outer end of the lever 14, to which the thrust rod is pivoted, is preferably less than the diameter of the circular path traveled by the axis of the crank pin l7 as the crank wheel rotates, consequently some compensating connection is required between said lever- 14 and the crank wheel 17 or its pin 17 This compensating connection I- secure by means of the springs 19 and 20 or other resilient devices located as previously described,,between stops on the thrust rod 15 and the opposite ends of the crank sleeve 16, for it will be apparent that after the lever 14 has moved throughits allowed angle of movement and thrown the valve 5 to one extreme position, the crank pin 17 still has some distance to travel before completing its semi-rotation. In passing over this distance after having closed the valveto live steam and opened the .same to the exhaust, the crank sleeve 16 will compress the spring 19 until the crank pin l7 passes its dead center, after which the compression on the spring is relieved as said pin continues its rotation. When the crank pin 17 approaches the dead center on the opposite side of its axis of rotation the crank sleeve 16 engagesthespring 20 and opens thevalve to admit a fullpressure of steam into the cylinder 3 compressing said spring as it crosses the dead center, and then releasing the same as it continues its rotation.

It is to be noted that the spring 19 is longer than the spring 20. This is due to the fact that the lever 14 should, as the tramper is now ordinarily operated, be at rest for a longer period of time when the steam pressure is out off and the exhaust valve held open than when the steam is on with full force, and the exhaust valve held closed. In fact, under some conditions the spring 20 may be dispensed with entirely, the period of time during which the steam pressure is required being so short that the resilient connection, such as the spring 20, can be dispensed with. When the latch rod 13 is disengaged from the collar 8 it will be evident that the valve stem 6 is readily rotated back and forth by hand from the lever arm 10.

Instead of the particular compensating mechanism shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, modifications thereof, such as represented in Figs. 6 and 7, may be employed. In Fig. 6 the thrust rod 15 is pivoted directly to the crank pin 17 at one end and rigidly fastened at its other end to a spring rod or strip, bent back and forth transversely into folds or loops 15 pivotally connected to the arm or lever 14. These folds or loops 15 yield when the thrust rod 15 is placed under pressure or tension during the rotation f the crank pin 17 and return to normal when such pressure. or tension is removed.

Fig. 7 shows a leaf spring 14 forming a continuation of the lever 14, on the end of which spring is pivoted a thrust rod 15 the opposite. end of the thrust rod 15 beingdirectly pivoted to the crank pin 17. In this form of the device it is preferred to make the leaf spring of two or more leaves of different lengths, as shown, so that it will be more resilient when the thrust rod moves in one direction, than when it moves in the opposite direction.

While the above description refers to a tramper with a single acting steam cylinder,

the tramper head being forced downward by team pressure and returned by suitable tackle or other means, at the same time, the

same movement of the lever 14 will properly operate the combined steam and exhaust valve of a double acting steam cylinder of any type now commonly in use.

What I claim is 1. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft and connected to said valve for traversing the latter from one extreme position to the other, said means including a resilient device for holding the valve a predetermined time in one of its extreme positions.

v2. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by-a fluid pressure cylinder, the combinationwith a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft and connected to the said valve for traversing the same from one extreme position to the other, said means including a divided resilient device to hold said valve in said positions for predetermined periods of time.

3. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft and connected to said valve for traversing the same from one extreme position to the other, said means including a divided resilient device to hold said valve in one of the aforesaid positions a predetermined period and in the other position for a shorter period.

4:. In a tramper for cotton presses op'- erated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a compressed fluid inlet and exhaust valve, a rotatable shaft and means operated by said shaft and connected with said valve stem for automatically traversing said valve from one extreme position to the other, said means including a resilient device for holding the valve a predetermined time in one of its extreme positions, and a separate resilient device for holding the valve in the opposite extreme position.

5. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the samecomprising a valve stem and means on said stem for manually actuating said valve, a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft and detachably connected to the valve stem for automatically traversing said valve from one extreme position to the other, said means including a device having a divided resilience for holding the valve in both of the aforesaid positions during predetermined periods of time.

6. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a valve stem, and means on said stem for manually actuating said valve, a rotatable shaft, automatic means operated by said shaft and detachably connected to the valve stem for traversing said valve from one extreme position to the other, and a latch device on the manually actuating means for locking the automatically operating means to the valve stem and unlocking the same.

7. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft and connected to said valve for traversing the same from one extreme position to the other, said means including la device for holding the valve in one of said positions longer than in the other during each rotation of the shaft.

8. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a valve stem, means on said stem for actuating the valve, a rotatable crank, and a thrust rod slidably connected to said crank, and pivoted to said valve actuating means.

9. In a tramper for cotton presses oper ated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a valve stem, means on said stem for actuating said valve, a rotatable crank, and a thrust rod slidably connected to said crank and pivoted to said valve actuating means, and resilient means on said rod for alternately holding the valve in both of its actuated positions as the crank turns.

10. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a valve stem, means on said stem for actuating said valve, a rotatable crank, a sleeve pivotally mounted on said crank, a thrust rod pivoted to the valve actuating means and slidable in said sleeve, and a cushioning spring surrounding the thrust rod at each end of said sleeve.

11. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a valve stem, means on said stem for actuating said valve, a rotatable crank, means operated by said crank connected to said valve actuating means for traversing said valve from one extreme position to another, and a latch mechanism between the valve stem and its actuating means. 12. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a compressed fluid inlet and exhaust valve, a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft and connected to said valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said valve, said means including a resilient device for holding said valve in the position where the exhaust is open and the inlet closed.

13. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination with a compressed fluid inlet and exhaust valve, a rotatable shaft, and means operated by said shaft and connected to said valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said valve, said means including a means including a resilient device for holding said valve a predetermined time in the posltion Where the exhaust 1s open and inlet closed, and a similar device for holding said valve adiflerent period of time in the position Where the exhaust is closed and the inlet open.

15. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination With a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a rotatable shaft, a crank Wheel on said shaft, and means operated by said crank Wheel and connected to said valve for traversing the same from one extreme position to another whereby said valve When in one of said extreme positions Will admit compressed fluid therethrough, and in the other position dis charge the same after use therefrom, said means including a device for holding said valve in one of said extreme positions longer than in the other during each rotation of said crank Wheel.

16. In a tramper for cotton presses operated by a fluid pressure cylinder, the combination With a valve for regulating the fluid pressure in the cylinder, of mechanism for actuating said valve, the same comprising a valve stem, latching mechanism mounted on said stem and adapted to be angularly adjustable about its axis, a vibrating arm loosely mounted on said valve stem and adapted to be secured thereto by said latching means for operating the valve, a rotatable crank, a sleeve pivotally mounted on said crank, a thrust rod pivoted to said vibrating arm and slidable in said sleeve, and

a cushioning spring surrounding the thrust rod at each end of said sleeve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NIMROD W. L. BROWN.

Witnesses:

J. T. MGGEHEE, Jr., A. F. AUSTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

